Southwestern Vermont - "The Green Mountain State"

Southwestern Vermont is a scenic region of high mountain peaks, state parks, natural beauty, wildlife and recreational opportunities.  The Taconic and Green Mountains, part of the Appalachian Mountains, are the two beauties that constitute this part of “The Green Mountain State”, the nickname of the state of Vermont, the United States.

The two mountains are separated by the Valley of Vermont, as the Taconic Mountains boasts several high peaks as one of them, Mount Equinox (3,816 feet), is the highest in Bennington County, the main county in the region. Hundreds of hiking trails including parts of the Appalachian Trail are among the advantages of this area of ecological value, targeted for conservation by many state and non-governmental institutions due to its lush vegetation and unique ecosystem. "Taconic" is derived from a Native American name, which means "in the trees". The high Equinox Mountain is located next to Manchester, the second biggest city of the region after Bennington.
The Green Mountains extends to 250 miles (400 km) and are the oldest mountains in New England, although they are not as high as they were before due to erosion.  Boreal forest and alpine vegetation in the peaks of Camel's Hump, Mount Mansfield, and Mount are its main features. There are also many ski resorts and hiking trails including part of the Long Trail (272 miles), which is the oldest long-distance trail in the country. The 400,000 acres of Green Mountain National Forest includes many ski resorts, trails (900 miles) and is abundant of wildlife including moose, coyote, black bear, and birds like ruffed grouse and wild turkey.

The city of Bennington is situated between the two mountains and boasts rich historical and cultural heritage, being the cultural and the economic hub of Southwestern Vermont. It has a population of about 16,000 people and an area of 42.5 square miles (110.0 km2). There are many museums, galleries and historic sites like the typical for the city covered bridges.

The cultural landmarks in Bennington include Robert Frost Stone House Museum, opened in 2002. The famous poet lived in the house between 1920 to 1929. The most prominent landmark is Bennington Battle Monument, which is a huge monument dedicated to the historical Battle of Bennington in 1777, which happened during the Revolutionary war. There is an elevator to the top, from where you can see New York, Vermont, and Massachusetts.

Another landmarks include the 96 acres of New England Tropical Conservatory, just off the Main Street, which is dedicated to preserving tropical plants and its trails are open to the public. Historic North Bennington Village is also closeby. The city downtown is one of the main attraction with many landmarks, but skiing is what attracts most of the visitors. It is a center of ski tourism as the main resorts are Green Mountain Club and "No Bull" Ski Report. Snowmobiling is also very popular with trail system of over 5,000 miles.

Camping is another available recreation activity in the area. Campgrounds and state parks are plenty. Lake Shaftsbury State Park is situated in a wooded area and offers boat rentals, picnic area, wildlife watching, and more. There is also a large beach on the lake. Woodford State Park has 103 camping sites, ideal for swimming and fishing. Water sports like canoeing and kayaking, as well as several playgrounds are also available. Emerald Lake State Park, located close to the Green Mountain National Forest, includes 105 wooded campsites with a beach, boat rentals, and all amenities needed for outdoor recreation.